Economic Development Director Jobs in Irmo, SC (NOW HIRING)

Job Responsibilities About Us The South Carolina State Housing Finance and Development Authority (SC Housing) helps families across the state by creating safe, decent and affordable housing opportunities. Cultivating partnership with a broad range of public and private partners, including legislative and governmental officials, helps us form vital connections to support affordable housing initiatives across the state. We are looking to fill a critical position as Communications Partnerships and Policy Manager in order to support our external relations and affordable housing policy work.

Job Responsibilities In the role of Communications Partnerships and Policy Manager, you will support the agency's communication with Federal and State lawmakers, interest groups, advocates, media outlets and constituents. You will work closely with the Strategic Communications Director and our agency leadership to communicate program policy proposals and initiatives to legislative and governmental audiences. You must be comfortable engaging in on-the-spot interviews with media agents about the agency's involvement in legislative proceedings and activities, as necessary.

As the Communications Partnerships and Policy Manager, you will participate in meetings, forums, policy roundtables, panels and other outreach events to share information about agency programs, services and perspective on housing issues. At the same time, you will use these opportunities to gather information about varying housing needs in the state and the potential impact of proposals. You will explore cross-sector partnership opportunities and facilitate discussions with the appropriate program areas.

You will need to identify the appropriate internal stakeholders or subject matter experts (SMEs) to lead these discussions as they move forward into more technical policy planning aspects. Timely information sharing and follow-up on these external opportunities with all involved parties, as well as seeking guidance and direction on key decision points from the Strategic Communications Director, will be key to your success in this role. Your role will involve a great deal of autonomy yet accountability to ensure that commitments made on behalf of the agency are appropriately vetted with your department and agency leadership.

In addition, trust and transparency is a key part of how we engage and establish and maintain credibility with our partners. Public engagement is another key aspect of your role. As such, you will be responsible for proactively engaging discussions with a broad range of housing partners and stakeholders, advocates, public officials, and the community at large about housing needs, programs and opportunities.

You will use multiple communication channels and tools to support these discussions. You will need to work collaboratively with your Communications team members to ensure that content is written in plain language, and that the delivery of this information is easy to find, easy to access and easy to understand by the public. You will also need to be comfortable with giving interviews on social media platforms and podcasts as the agency plans to leverage all available channels, including digital platforms, to reach a broader audience.

You will also be responsible for organizing and managing the agency's Annual Affordable Housing Summit, which attracts approximately 500 participants from across the state for a two-day event. This position may require up to 3 days of travel per month, as determined by community engagements. Occasional evening and weekend work may also be required to participate in outreach events scheduled at optimal times for constituents.

Evening work may also be required during the legislative session. Minimum and Additional Requirements Bachelor's degree in Business Administration, Communications, Marketing, Journalism, Public Administration, Public Relations, or a related field of study, and at least 5 years of professional experience in housing policy, economic development or a related field. Additional Requirements: Excellent written and verbal communication skills, to include public speaking.

Ability to exercise diplomacy and discretion when working with key stakeholders, including the general public, in order to build support for agency programs and initiatives. Ability to analyze complex program requirements and summarize those issues for broad audiences. Excellent time management and project management skills.

Ability to work in a fast-paced environment with time constraints. Ability to identify and leverage opportunities to promote community engagement. Must have discretion, judgment and the ability to maintain confidentiality of sensitive materials.

Must demonstrate integrity, honesty, trustworthiness and appropriate ethical behavior. Proficiency with MS Office Suite. Must have a valid SC driver's license and occasional overnight or weekend travel is required.

*Candidates must specifically meet the Agency Minimum Requirements or an equivalent combination of education and experience to be considered for this position. An equivalent combination of education and experience may be substituted to meet the agency minimum requirements. (i.e

1 year of education = 1 year of related experience) Must be able to lift and carry files, books and reports weighing up to 20lbs. Must be able to perform filing, desk work and operate general office equipment. Must be able to sit or stand for prolonged or intermittent periods of time while sharing, gathering or presenting information to other staff members or external parties.

Employee must be able to perform these tasks with or without reasonable accommodations. Preferred Qualifications Experience working and communicating with the legislative bodies, governmental officials and/or housing industry groups is strongly preferred. Masters degree in Business Administration, Communications, Marketing, Journalism, Public Administration, Public Relations, Social Work or other advanced degree preferred.

Additional Comments What makes us Different. We are a state governmental agency but one unlike you've encountered before. We operate much more like a private sector business.

We are a self-sustaining operation that offers rental and homeownership products and services. As a result, we face many of the same regulatory, market, and financial hurdles of private sector financial institutions. Our clear advantage to employees is that we offer challenging and meaningful work, as well as excellent state government benefits.

Our Benefits Package: SC Housing offers an exceptional benefits package that includes: Telecommuting options Accrued Paid Time Off (15 days annual/vacation leave per year and 15 days sick leave per year) 13 paid holidays PEBA Health, dental, vision, long term disability, and life insurance for employees, spouses, and children PEBA Perks Free Telehealth Visits for State Health Plan members Free Health Coaching for State Health Plan members State Retirement Plan Deferred Compensation Programs 401k and 457 plans MoneyPlus (tax-favored accounts program) Employee Assistance Program Employee Discount Programs (PerksCard, TicketsatWork, and WeSave) Casual Fridays Tuition Reimbursement Program (after 6 months of employment) Public Service Loan Forgiveness (PSLF) Eligible Employer And much, much more. Location, Location, Location: The Palmetto State offers something for everyone. Located in the Midlands, Columbia is both the state capital and South Carolina's second-largest city.

It is just a short commute to the state's beautiful beaches and gorgeous mountains. Sunny summers and mild winters allow residents to experience the outdoors year-round, a plus considering that Lake Murray is just minutes away. Great universities and colleges, minimal commute times and friendly people make South Carolina the ideal place to build your future.